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“The general happiness of mankind today is rather scant and insecure; but We should have to live and do Our best to ameliorate it. Education of the youth is the surest guarantee of a better life. Therefore, among the many projects undertaken for the welfare and prosperity of Ethiopia, We have planned that education be the principal. Many foreign teachers have been brought in to feed the youth like a gardener feeds his plants with fresh water.” #QHS
Even Moses testified the prophetical relevance of Ethiopia as motherland of Mankind. He is the greatest prophet of old, about whom it has been said in the Scripture:
“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34, 10)
When Moses realized his own calling and racial identity as child of Israel, he departed from the idolatric and oppressive court of Egypt: he killed an egyptian man, as symbolic denial of that system, and took refuge in Midian, at that time an Ethiopian colony ruled by the Ethiopian Priest and King Jethro (Yotor):
“Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock…” (Exodus 2, 15-16)
Jethro was a descendant of Melchisedek and Ethièl: in fact, he was priest and king in the same time, and the validity of his priesthood was acknowledged by the children of Israel, who participate into his rite and sacrifice (Exodus 18). This valid priesthood, existing before the Levites, was the Order of Melchisedek, he had inherited from his forefather. Similarly to Abraham with Melchisedek, Moses bowed down unto Jethro the Ethiopian in submission:
“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him” (Exodus 18,7)
Having dismissed the pagan robes of the Egyptians, Moses rebuilt his own identity following the authority and education of Jethro the Ethiopian, that taught him all the secrets of Priesthood and Kingdom also. It is a good example of this when he told Moses to rationally organize the administration of justice, establishing subordinate judges to solve the disputes of the people (Exodus 18). This is said in the same chapter where Jethro leads the liturgy of the children of Israel.
Moses married the daughter of Jethro, that thus became his father-in-law. Therefore, Moses was completely adopted by an Ethiopian family and was filled with Ethiopian knowledge to face his prophetical ministry. There, among the Ethiopians, God revealed Himself:
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed (…) God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” (Exodus 3, 1-4)
Zipphora, his ethiopian wife, became the queen of the nation of Israel, companion of His greatest prophet and Law-giver, as symbol of the divine motherland and physical racial essence of the kingdom of God.
When the Levitic family of Moses saw his Ethiopian wife, they became jelous and hostile, for Moses had taken as wife a stranger. But it was not a stranger indeed, therefore Egziabhier sent a terrible punishment of leprosy against those ones without understanding (Numbers 12). Their doom is allegorically the same of all those trying to deny Ethiopia her rightful divine place as original biblical motherland.
And talking about Christ, the second Law-Giver, Moses prophecied about the coming of a Prophet of Ethiopian Knowledge and Order, like himself, saying:
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18, 15)
“One evening at the dinner table a conversation was going on in French between some of the guests. Suddenly the Emperor turned to me and asked, ‘What do you believe? How old is the world?’ #QHS
‘If we are to believe the Bible,” I said, “it is about six thousand years old.’
‘Impossible,’ someone spoke up. ‘It is at least six million years old.’ This person attempted to explain how scientists had discovered certain animals in artic regions and how they reasoned that the world must be millions of years old to allow time for all the changes in the earth to come about.
‘To me it is not a question that concerns my salvation,’ I replied ‘and I never argue with anyone as to how old the earth is.’
The Emperor agreed at once, saying, ‘That is true. Salvation is sure, and these things really do not matter.‘ #QHS
(Taken from: “For God and Emperor”, Herbert and Della Hanson, 1958, page 150)
“Ethiopia: 13 Months of Sunshine” was an official motto of the Imperial Government to powerfully summarize the unique climate of the country, ideal for man as it is the original Paradise of Adam.
At the same time, the sentence would show an intelligent reference to the special cultural antiquity and vitality of the nation, having a peculiar system of calendar made of 13 months (12 months of 30 days + Pagumiè short month of 5/6 days).
Prophetically, it recalled to I&I the words of Saint John about the Kingdom of Christ:
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” (Revelation 21, 23-25)
Few people know that behind that intense motto, spiritual and temporal alike, there was a great ethiopian genius, minister of His Majesty Haile Selassie in building up the foundations of modern Ethiopia, Hapte-Selassie Tafesse, Founder of Ethiopian Tourism.
His legacy represents an essential cultural, artistic and technical wealth for Ethiopia and mankind, that his descendant is now striving to keep alive in these times, speaking about his deeds and carrying on his projects. They are coming soon with very interesting and useful educational works that deserve to be supported, you can find further information here:
“THE DAILY LIFE OF THE EMPEROR
There is probably no ruler in the world who has so hard a task as the Emperor Haile Selassie. He is the head executive of every department in the State, one of the few rulers who can say with truth: L’Etat, c’est Moi ! Many observers have born witness to his constant devotion to duty and have pictured him in time of peace working a sixteen hour day, while in time of war he goes frequently for forty-eight hours or more without sleep. Lately, indeed, some of those close to him have been afraid that he was overtaxing his endurance, but his sleep, though scanty, is of satisfying depth and he rises after only a few hours completely refreshed.
This is a gift of special interest since many great administrators have possessed it. So also is the fact of his extreme frugality at table. The food which is served is of the highest quality, but the Emperor is always sparing, especially in the consumption of meat dishes, while as far as wine is concerned although he has a cultivated palate and a very respectable cellar he is moderate to a degree. His mind, which he he works to its utmost, is never clouded; his eye is always clear, his hand always steady. At heart he is a lover of ease, meditation, and aesthetic pleasures; but he is unswerving in his devotion to duty.
Between the hours of four and five in the morning he is called by his personal servant, who ofter finds the Emperor already awakened and in prayer. Having completed his devotions he passes at once to his study where the Ministers of State attend him. The first consideration is news. There are reports from every seat of government which is connected to the capital by telegraph; there are the verbal messages of runners who have been sent by faithful chiefs who are watching the Emperor’s interests in the more isolated districts; and there are confidential reports of happenings in and around Addis Ababa. Any replies which may be necessary are at once dictated, the Emperor glancing through the completed drafts and sometimes making additions and alterations in his own neat hand. (…) He has made himself as it were the centre of a sensitive network of nerves. When anything happens he feels it. Pain is transmitted. Then later comes the knowledge of what caused the pain. That is perhaps the best way to describe a state of affairs rather puzzling to the European mind. (…)
But to return to the Emperor’s study. The orders for the day are given. There is now an interval while the Emperor drinks coffee, consumes bread and fruit and glances at the latest issue of his newspaper ‘Light and Peace’, the leading article of which is possibly his own handiwork, written with scrupulous weighing of words last night after a day of exacting duties. (…)
One of the sights on which the visitors never fail to remark is the lions of which there are many round about the palace. Often the Emperor strolls in his gardens accompanied by two playful cubs. (…)
Early in the afternoon the Emperor lunches sparingly, perhaps entertaining European visitors, and they enjoys a deserved rest. This respite is usually brief, however, for there is an endless round of inspections awaiting him. His troops, his schools, his hospitals – all these need his personal attention. Though he has twenty ministers they are really secretaries rather than executives. The Emperor is active head of every department.
Those who know him are surprised at his varied knowledge. Books come to him from Europe on every subject and he never ceases to amass facts. Before the war cut short all his civic endeavours he had begun to study botany in search of methods by which the productivity of his country might be increased. (…)
During the eary evening he consults with his financial advisers, comparing the records of tax returns and enquiring the cause of fluctuations. He has rapidly absorbed the principles of sound economics and understand very well the theory of taxation. In his early years as ruler he did not sufficiently oppose the principle of taxing imports, especially luxuries, as much as possible. It was the old tradition of ‘squeeze’. In the years prior to the war a very great change was observed by those familiar with the country. While the need of money still necessitated the imposition of dues the Emperor’s enquiries were directed to schemes by which these might be lessened and in private conversation he revealed himself as a Free Trader, saying that it was the ceaseless erection of barriers to trade by governments who should rather bend their efforts to removing them that had caused the world slump.
Dinner may be a ceremonial meal with many visitors and elaborate courses or a comparatively brief affair if the Emperor is not entertaining and has work to do. In the event of a State banquet, or even entertainment on a much less scale, all the conventions of Europe are strictly observed. Invitation cards of plain design but excellent quality all bearing the royal crest in gold are delivered with due formality well in advance. The menu is printed sometimes in Amharic only, but often with the normal French names with which the European is perfectly at home. The guests assemble in a long anteroom and when all are present the Emperor appears to head the procession to the table having first received the salutations of the party and having spoken a few words of welcome to the guests.
The Swiss chef is a master of his art. It is his duty to taste all the food which comes to the royal table. The imperial family are not often together but when the only remaining princess dines with her father she wears a simple Paris gown in the most perfect taste. (…)
For all State occasions the gold plate purchased during the visit to England is used. Champagne is the wine most in favour, but though it is plentifully supplied by tall footmen in red coats and white breeches who are trained to perfection and stand behind every chair, the Emperor’s glass is not often refilled. Frequently when the banquet is ended he goes straight to his study, lights the large reading lamp which stands upon his desk, and works there till morning guarded only by a single servant who stands outside the door.
The Emperor is air-minded. When he first visited Aden in 1923 he asked to be allowed to make a flight and did so in a seaplane while his suite held their breath. (…)
No one who has given the Emperor frank and disinterested advice has ever been forgotten by him. It may be some time before the opportunity offers, but always there is kindly and adequate recognition of the help received.
The Emperor has always been very accessible to foreigners and journalists have never had any cause to complain of his treatment of them. (…)
His relations with the Empress Manen are an index to his simple, unchanging character. He married her twenty years ago before he began his struggle for the throne and has never had cause to regret his choice. Sha has been a loyal helpmate in countless ways of which the outside world knows little, and it is perhaps most to her credit that where she could not help she has not hindered. (…)
The Emperor shows her great respect, and by his considerate treatment of his wife and his high moral standards has set a fine example to his people. Even those who like him least can have no ground for criticism in his marital life. In the midst of pressing affairs Haile Selassie would always give priority to a letter from his wife and he would deal with her requests with generosity and with scrupulous attention to detail. (…)
The Emperor loves clocks. He knows that they measure the most important thing in life. He knows – and to his cost – that he is almost the only man in Ethiopia aware of that fact. He realises, too, the importance of training everybody to the use of the clock. In modern Ethiopia time is money. (…)
That is the great personal tragedy of the Emperor – he can foresee so many consequences to which his lighthearted warriors are blind, and he cannot explain to them the reasons for his actions.”
(Taken from “Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia”, Princess Asfa Yilma, London 1936)
“Possibly you have read that when the Emperor goes out shooting the official who accompanies him always shoots first and misses while the Emperor then brings off the winning shot. This sort of anecdote though true enough in uninterpreted fact gives a very wrong impression. To begin with a second shot is often a good deal more difficult than a first – and Haile Selassie is admitted by all who know him to be a very fine shot indeed; while it is incorrect that the ceremonial – a very ancient prescription – is carried out whenever the Emperor shoots. A young Frenchman of my acquaintance, an almost miraculous shot, told me how some years ago he had the pleasure of a few hours informal shooting with the Emperor whom he paid the compliment of treating simply as a fellow sportsman and beating at the game – though by a very small margin.
‘When it was all over’, he said, ‘I watched for signs of sulkiness, or alternatively that glassy politeness which is even more indicative of the bad loser with whom the fault is inborn. I will swear that I saw no such sign. The Emperor was genuinely glad to have found an antagonist willing to meet him on equal terms and being beaten in a fair trial of skill perturbed him not in the least.’ “
